Running multiple instances of an application

Vista Help

I trade stocks with multiple brokers and therefore use multiple trading
applications. Two of my brokers use the same trading software, InstaQuote.
So it is necessary for me to run two instances of IQuote32.exe.

This used to work on my old XP machine. On my new Vista 64 machine I can
launch either version (they are branded so there is an obvious difference),
but when I attempt to launch the second instance it just activates the first
one.

Is there a setting that I need to change? Surely this is not something that
is no longer allowed! If I can't fix this quickly I will have to go back to
XP.

Try finding out from either vender if it has command line swithes and add
what is needed to have two instances. It could be as simple as /m at the end
of the shortcut run line. I know because this happened to me and the
solution was so simple in the end.

If that doesn't work, try going into the folder for each and creating a
shortcut on the desktop for each executable. I am running 3 instances of
mIRC like this. Two for my bots, and one for my general chat.

Create a duplicate folder for the second app. I mean you have to install if
from scratch (zip file) but prior to that you should try to rename the first
folder and the exec. I presume the folder is in Program Files. It is not
easy in Vista but doable.

Creating the second folder may be necessary if Vista does not allow you to
create a second instance since both app will have to tap different
databases. I do not know if it is acceptable for you or not? It may be
something the logistic of your trading operations won't allow to happen. In
this case it is just an idea to consider and discard.

On top of creating the second folder with the exec under a different name
you have to make sure that the ports for both instances ARE different.
Usually the API vendor stipulates the port or the range of ports to be used.
Usually a latitude of some variations is allowed. In quotetracker which I
use ports 16039 and 16040 are the ports to use although the user may change
that. If you are going to run two APIs at once then the port separation must
be preserved.

It is unclear how you are going to reconcile your separate but duplicate
databases if it is important.

Another option for you is to examine the options in your API if there is a
switch to allow two instances running. My quotetracker is so complex if I
need to activate a new function it is easier fro me to send them email than
look for it myself.

You can rename your IQuote32.exe in IQuote32first.exe.

An idiotic thought. you've got a 32 bit app on 64 bit machine. is it
possible that this does not allow you to launch the second instance? Perhaps
there is a newer IQuote64.exe?

Very, VERY unlikely.

The third option is to consider running a virtual PC and you may have
another instance in that separate virtual machine.